Sharjeel Mustafa’s journey through the practical application of his studies helped unveil a clearer direction for his future: exploring the realm of machine learning.

A computer science student, Mustafa completed his co-op term at Swift Medical, a start-up tech company specializing in wound care management technology for health-care enterprises. Given the dynamic nature of start-ups, he took on a variety of projects and large-scale tasks.

“During my co-op term at Swift Medical, I was exposed to working in industry research and machine learning and had opportunity to work on projects that encompassed the data pipeline. Given the fast-paced and tight-knit nature of start-ups, I was treated as a full-time employee and given freedom and responsibility over my projects,” says Mustafa.

“Thanks to the support of my supervisor, I was able to take on large-scale tasks and make significant contributions in the form of two research papers and a prototype for a multi-million-dollar initiative.”

Rishabh Gupta, Mustafa’s supervisor at Swift Medical, says his work reflected a rare combination of technical expertise and analytical acumen: “He demonstrated a deep understanding of complex data science concepts and applied innovative methodologies to derive insights that significantly enriched our understanding of wound care.”

Mustafa credits the technical knowledge he gained in the classroom with helping him excel in his co-op work term.

“My academic training in SLQ, Python, data structures, and statistics gave me the necessary background to work on these projects,” he says. “This, coupled with the mentorship I received, greatly supplemented my abilities and motivated me to continue my focus on machine learning.”

Mustafa says the influence of his work-term at Swift Medical cannot be overstated, inspiring him to continue exploring the world of machine learning.

“My co-op experience significantly altered my post-academic goals and motivated me to further pursue studies related to machine learning,” he says. “At the conclusion of my work term, I immediately decided to join a machine learning project for my fourth-year research project and have taken up another information extraction project at school to continue working in the field.”

Mustafa received a Co-op Rising Star Award for his time at Swift Medical.

When faculty complete research projects, they may write a paper or make a presentation. When faculty in the arts complete creative projects, they present an exhibition or perform a recital.

Jordan Smith, a flute instructor in the School of Creative Arts, will demonstrate the evolution of his musical prowess in a recital “Resonance in Retrospect” on Saturday, March 23.

The program is carefully curated, featuring pieces by diverse composers, each contributing to Smith’s growth and musical narrative.

“We begin with Michael Colquhoun's Charanga, setting the stage for inspiration. His work serves as a springboard, igniting the flame of creativity and pushing the boundaries of artistry,” Smith writes in his program notes. “The addition of Earth by Takatsugu Muramatsu enriches the recital with its evocative themes. Muramatsu’s composition becomes a tribute to the connection between music and nature, inviting the audience to explore the organic beauty of sound.”

The full program includes Fani Imén by Valerie Coleman, Acht Stücke for solo flute by Paul Hindemith, Sachamama for flute and electronics by Anne LeBaron, and Sonatina for flute and piano by Eldin Burton.

“These expressive melodies and lyrical beauty encapsulate the profound connection I’ve cultivated with the flute,” says Smith.

“Resonance in Retrospect” will feature Smith on flute accompanied by pianist Lorna Cameron-Price at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Performance Hall, SoCA Armouries, 37 University Ave. East. Tickets are $20, $10 for students, available online or at the door. Payment at the door must be by card only — cash cannot be accepted.

Next week, the University of Windsor Pride Committee will mark Transgender Day of Visibility with a campaign on social media, honouring the trans community and engaging in education and advocacy on its behalf.

First celebrated on March 31, 2009, the day is an annual, international event honouring living members of the trans community while highlighting systemic barriers they confront.

“Some folks may recall previous celebrations on campus for Trans Day of Remembrance in November, which honours the lives lost to anti-trans violence,” says UWinPride co-chair Ashlyne O’Neil. “Through our campaign for Trans Day of Visibility, though, we aim to raise awareness about the ways in which trans folks must navigate our society today, as well as to celebrate their lives, empower them to live authentically, and to enable active allyship.”

The entire week leading up to the Transgender Day of Visibility will be a showcase of free Open Educational Resources shared daily on @UWinPride's Instagram platform and website. The celebration will kick off on Monday, March 24, with the raising of the trans flag at 11:45 a.m. on the west side of Chrysler Hall Tower. All are welcome to join in this celebration.

While this campaign serves as a dedicated moment of visibility and advocacy, its impact is intended to extend far beyond a single week. Through ongoing education, dialogue, and support, UWinPride and the University community are dedicated to creating a campus environment where all individuals feel valued, respected, and empowered to live authentically.

Visit the UWinPride website for more information about upcoming events, including a wellness-themed Open Mic Coffee House night, and an opportunity to be featured on UWinPride’s Instagram as a visible member of the UWindsor 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Students and faculty of sociology and criminology are gathering from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today – Friday, March 22 -- to present and celebrate research in their fields.

Organized by the Department of Sociology and Criminology’s Graduate Student Alliance, the conference is open to researchers beyond the University of Windsor to foster broader connections and collaboration.

The Alliance’s co-chair Jamie Segeren is most looking forward to supporting fellow graduate students and undergrads who may never have presented before.

“It’s exciting to have the opportunity to listen to and discuss new research in such a wide and diverse range of topics and areas,” she says. “I hope to expand my own views and knowledge through the research of my fellow colleagues, as well as presenters and attendees from other universities like Toronto and York.”

Organizers hope to foster a safe, welcoming, academic environment where attendees and presenters are able to gain insights into new areas of research, as well as exposure to new ideas, trends, theories, and methods.

“We have a variety of topics and areas of research being showcased, such as topics in 2SLGBTQIA+, COVID-19, intersection of gender and visibility, and sociological process and movements, among many more,” says Segeren. “We hope that those who present and attend are exposed to the diverse areas of research and walk away with new knowledge, perspectives and understanding.”

Kristen Morris has accepted a one-year acting appointment as executive director of Experiential Learning effective April 1, provost Robert Aguirre announced Thursday.

“With over 21 years at our institution, Kristen has demonstrated dedication and leadership,” Dr. Aguirre said. “We are confident that her leadership will continue to propel our University’s experiential learning initiatives to great heights.”

Among her career highlights, he listed Morris’s 14-year tenure at the former Centre for Executive and Professional Education, where she played a pivotal role in spearheading professional master’s programs tailored for working professionals and course-based master’s programs, eight years as manager of Co-operative Education and Workplace Partnerships, and most recently, moving into the role of director of co-op in 2023.

“Kristen has been recognized for quickly identifying areas for improvement and producing results,” said Aguirre. “Please join me in extending congratulations to Kristen on her new role.”

The Financial Accounting and Reporting team has prepared and circulated a memorandum outlining procedures and specific deadlines for the fiscal year-end.

The memo is available on the finance website, along with supplemental and training information.

Finance will also provide a fiscal year-end training session via Microsoft Teams at 9 a.m. April 17. Watch for an e-mail invitation to the training session. If you wish to attend but were missed on the invite, contact Linda Scheer at lscheer@uwindsor.ca or 519-253-3000, ext. 2118, to be added.

“As always, we appreciate the efforts of the campus to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting,” says Jenifer Gritke, acting controller.

The Turtle Island Aboriginal Education Centre in the CAW Student Centre will host the last session of the semester consulting with Indigenous students on the University’s first Indigenous Strategic Plan on Monday, March 25.

All attending students will receive lunch and snacks; respondents to a questionnaire on topics from their personal experiences to suggestions to prove the plan will receive $20 e-gift cards.

“This is our last consultation and we are looking forward to a huge turnout,” says Shefali Sahni, research assistant in the Office of the Senior Advisor to the President on Indigenous Relations and Outreach.

Monday’s consultation session will run noon to 2:30 p.m.